As Einstein is believed to have said, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is a form of insanity. Crises will keep on coming until we stop what we’re doing that’s causing them in the first place.

By examining the common mistakes or causes behind the global leadership crisis, we can also understand and deal with what is causing crises in other situations. That’s because behind every crisis stands human beings as a common denominator.  

In Part I on the 4th of July, we examined two common mistakes contributing to the global leadership crisis, including overlooking the context or facts necessary to clarify and substantiate statements or claims. The other mistake is separating our reflections or narratives from real work, the kind of work that involves changing attitudes and behaviour.

Today, we’ll look at the other two common mistakes behind a leadership crisis: the tendency to underestimate the power of mindsets and failing to report on results.  

But before doing so, I should point out that it was from the work of Sebastian Salicru promoting a leadership psychological contract model that I first learned of these common mistakes. Salicru’s model intends to move beyond competency-only approaches to promote leader accountability, integrity, ethics/fairness, and to inspire trust through building stronger stakeholder engagement.

The competency approach focuses on the ability to do the work successfully and efficiently, and what is being suggested is to move beyond that technical approach to consider psychological (mental and emotional) aspects of leadership and the problems we face.

Do not underestimate the power of mindsets.  

To fully appreciate its power, we need to see the mindset as a set of founding beliefs, values, assumptions, or attitudes that shape the way we understand the world and ourselves. It influences and determines the way we think, feel, and behave in any given situation.

It’s a very powerful tool or a weapon long recognised, including in the bible, and by the most disruptive and dangerous of world leaders in the past and now.

The Editorial on the 9th July, titled ‘False Information. A threat to the nation, looks into how the mindset has become a target for thought and emotional manipulation and considers ways of countering.

It called for people who deliberately choose to falsely accuse others of serious crimes or threaten physical harm to be “held accountable” in court, and it ended with a reminder that “Freedom comes with responsibility”

But unless we prioritise the nurturing of mindsets that recognise the value of responsibility and accountability, the legal system will continue to be left behind and outside of where the most agitated keyboarders live.

In the 2020 Govt VNR report, a highlight is made of the fa’a Samoa principle of “collective responsibility for each other, our ‘aiga’ and families and for the good of all our villages, communities and country”. I think collective responsibility and mutual accountability, and the need to strengthen them, are a national priority that needs to be a feature of election promises and policies.

Also, we have in the Village Council, recognised and empowered by The Village Fono Act…, a community governance mechanism that can be made stronger and more relevant to matters of national concern and security.

They are empowered to make their bylaws in 14 different governance areas, including the promotion of social cohesion and harmony, the protection of Samoan customs and traditions, safeguarding village norms and protocols, ensuring natural justice in Council decisions, and protecting natural resources and government assets.

Many villages have developed bylaws assuming responsibilities related to the governance areas in the Act, but what they need is resources and technical assistance from the central government to support the implementation of the Act and a systematic approach to strengthen collective responsibility and mutual accountability.

Village bylaws feature requirements or encouragements for church attendance and evening family prayers, and with the pastors, the pillars of village life, the mainstreaming of Christian principles into everyday living could provide a stronger normative basis for Samoan customs and traditions.  

A good example could be taken from Paul writing in Romans 12 about transforming the mind to avoid sins and resulting personal crises, prioritising humility as a requirement for transformation, and a strong sense of belonging to the body-collective, where “each member belongs to all the others”.  

Failing to report the results.

The most important thing about reporting back on results is holding leaders and governments to account for the commitments made to the stakeholders.

The 2020 VNR report is an excellent example of reporting on global commitments (SDGs) with facts and realism. The government changed soon after, under controversial circumstances, so there was no time for follow-up.

However, the value of the report remains not only for global consumption but for national actions, which can be incorporated into party promises and plans for when they are in power.

The assessment in the VNR report contains facts and insights to support moving beyond competency-based approaches to strengthen leader accountability, integrity, ethics/fairness, and inspire trust through building stronger stakeholder engagement.

Fundamentally, we need to change our perspective on accountability and allocate more power to future people of Samoa. Otherwise, we will continue to be held accountable to the living stakeholders and partners at the expense of a livable future for our future peoples.

I sense that the reporting back our villages and constituencies are seeking from their politicians is not necessarily in a report, or just money and goods, but more so the of presence of their representatives in their lives and the empowerment they need so that they can freely hold each other, and their influential members including the MPs, accountable.

By strengthening collective responsibility and mutual accountability, we empower people to hold themselves and their leaders responsible and accountable.